Analysis of genetic variation and differentiation in the pygmy wood mouse Sylvaemus uralensis (Rodentia, Muridae) aided by the RAPD-PCR method

The present work ascertains distinct differentiation of the pygmy wood mouse into two groups of populations, which correspond to the European and Asian races, but can not, however, be considered valid species due to the low values of genetic distances between them. Neither of the used statistical methods explicitly verifies genetic isolation of the East-European and South-European chromosomal forms, which are close to one another and together constitute the European race. However, polymorphism of these chromosomal forms/races of the pygmy wood mouse differs each of them from the others, that can be explained both by the history of their formation (the degree of proximity to the ancestral population complex, isolation, etc.) and by unequal current environmental conditions.